This is what the U.S. Embassy says about security of Americans in Chile.What is the real story?
What are the real dangers?
Where are the safe places?
How much risk is there for expats?
Crime rates are low to moderate throughout Chile and are moderate in Santiago, Valparaiso, and other major cities. American citizens visiting Chile should be as careful in cities as they would be in any city in the United States. There have been few violent crimes committed against Americans. Most crimes against foreigners involve pick pocketing or theft from purses, backpacks, or rental cars. Such crimes have been reported in all areas of Chile frequented by tourists. In Santiago, visitors should be especially alert to the possibility of crime at the Plaza de Armas; at major hotels and restaurants in the Las Condes, Vitacura, and Providencia areas, and in the Suecia entertainment district. In Valparaiso, visitors should be especially alert in the port area. Tourists using taxis in Santiago should be alert to possible scams involving currency switching. There have been reports of taxi drivers switching 10,000 peso notes given to them by passengers for 1,000 peso notes and demanding additional payment, since these notes are similar in appearance. The emergency number for the police (Carabineros) is 133.
The potential for terrorist activity is low. There has been some politically motivated violence among indigenous communities in southern Chile, none of which has affected Americans. Potential for civil disturbance is low, although demonstrations, sometimes violent, do occur, particularly on the anniversary of the September 11, 1973 coup against the government of President Salvador Allende.
